A flame inside a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a key symbol of Unitarian Universalist faith. Many of our congregations light a chalice in gatherings and during worship. Most of us make the chalice symbol very prominent in our sacred spaces and beyond.

Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and flame as a Unitarian symbol during World War II. At the time, Deutsch worked with the Unitarian Service Committee, and he believed that the image suggested sacrifice and love.

To Unitarian Universalists today, the flaming chalice is a symbol of hope, the sacred, the quest for truth, the warmth of community, the light of reason, and more.

We light a flaming chalice in worship to create a reverent space for reflection, prayer, meditation, and song.